Tony Robbins says the #1 human need is certainty, but do you know what the second need is? It’s uncertainty. This tug of war between the competing needs of safety and risk are at the heart of so many dilemmas we face in life and for most folks the goal isn’t to eliminate risk – rather it’s to understand this core human need. In our view, the best way to understand or learn is through stories and so we’ve asked some very talented entrepreneurs and creatives to tell us the stories behind some of the risks they’ve taken.
Anthony Navarro
Becoming your own boss and starting your own business is a BIG risk and a scary one at that. A pay day is not always guaranteed. Especially when you have a family that relies on you to care for them. It takes a very special individual with high self-confidence to do so. Becoming a business owner and building a company from the ground up is a self fulfillment which words cannot describe. When the success of your business falls on your shoulders, and nobody else’s it will definitely convert you into a better more responsible person. Dedication, determination, Hardwork, and consistency is the key to running a successful business. Believe in yourself, and take that leap! Read more>>
Christine Lozada
My life was perfect on paper. I had the million dollar condo in San Francisco, I was rising in my corporate career, I was recently married, and I was surrounded by dozens of friends that I could hike, bike, and explore the city nightlife with. But it wasn’t perfect. I felt trapped by doing the same things every day, and having a clear path of exactly what my life would look like five, 10, even 20 years from now felt crushingly boring. My life lacked adventure and I was curious about other places in the world. Read more>>
Aisha Del Rosario
My name is Aisha Del Rosario, and I am a host of my very own YouTube channel and Podcaster of “HonesTEA with According2Aisha”. After a long bout with depression and anxiety I took to the microphone my first podcast back in 2019 to discuss childhood and adult trauma. What began as a monologue of transparent life experiences and learning lessons, led me to being contacted by Casting Directors for reality tv shows. I continued to work in my fulltime corporate career as a Recruiter for major corporations and soon discovered that I had a natural on-air personality. I decided to use my personality, corporate foundation, and ability to speak candidly about the connection between childhood trauma and depression to build a new and improved podcast. Read more>>
Treasure Thompson
In life all we do is take risks to teach or reach a goal we set for ourselves. In some situations it’s a big risk but the reward is bigger & worth it. One major risk in life I took was relocating across the country with my children and completely starting over from scratch. Initially I thought I was moving to assist a friend with some lifestyle changes and rebranding for her businesses so we could grow it together, but I soon found out that was not the plan and jumped in my own drivers seat. In that life changing risk I changed the environment for which I was comfortable with me and my children and I had faith that everything would work out in our favor for the best. Read more>>
Allester Vinteers
This year, I decided to try participating in an art fair for the very first time. It was a risk because I didn’t know how I would navigate, or if I would profit, that’s if I’d even get accepted to begin with. I tried my best to submit compelling applications with strong examples of my artwork to two art fairs happening in Dallas, hoping I may get accepted into one. I was accepted to both. Lots of communication, preparation, learning, and diligent work followed soon after, as well as nerves to be conquered and a self to reassure when things got rocky. My efforts paid off. My works sold to new collectors and I gained new commissions. I also learned new skills in navigating the art market, made professional connections with great people, and expanded into the Dallas art scene rather than being limited to just the opportunities in Fort Worth. I am glad I took the risk. This experience has encouraged me to continue to go beyond in my art career. Read more>>
haejin Kang
Switching majors and attending a different university at the age of 25 was a significant risk for me. At 20, I pursued journalism at the University of Oregon, despite it being unrelated to art. I had a deep interest in world issues and communication, which led me to dream of becoming a journalist. However, as I delved into the field, I couldn’t find the passion I had hoped for. Instead, I felt myself shrinking, losing sight of my dreams and aspirations. Constantly comparing myself to other students, I realized I needed to rediscover my true self. Read more>>
Jaylen Ward
One of the first instruments that I fell in love with was the drums. My family has been a huge inspiration for me and has inspired me to pick up music. I first started playing drums when I was 2 years old, and I first started playing professionally when I was 4 years old at church. This really challenged me to the edge of my ability. When I was about 7 years old, I ended up playing for the mass choir for multiple international gospel artists. Ever since then, I have always been in situations that challenge my resources and skills. During the pandemic, I discovered that I had to create my own opportunities to push myself. That is when I started to pick up other instruments and music production. Read more>>
Dr. Dionne Greaves
The biggest, life-changing risk I have ever taken was to make The BIG Leap from my corporate job into full-time entrepreneurship. It was by far the biggest risk I’ve ever taken but it has paid and continues to pay great dividends. I have absolutely no regrets about doing it because the timing was absolutely perfect and could not have happened at a better time. Last October, I walked away from corporate and unofficially retired from full-time employment because God woke me up with a word that simply said “Now Is The Time”. When that word came, I knew exactly what He meant so I did not hesitate. The very next morning – one day before my birthday – I submitted my resignation and walked away from corporate for good! Read more>>
Xylia Garcia
Years ago now, when I was finishing up my Associates degree I was at a crossroads in my life. I had been part-time in banking throughout college, I was up for a review, the semester was coming to an end, and I needed to decide: what is next in my life? I knew that traveling was in my future though I couldn’t say when, I knew I wanted to work in my field, which was theater, and I knew that the bank, although steady, was not something I wanted to do the rest of my life. At the time I was living with roommates in the South Houston / Pasadena area where I grew up and the theater scene was nearly nonexistent. If I wanted to do theater, I would need to go into downtown Houston where the theater industry was alive and well. Read more>>
Grace Newton
I feel like my move to Los Angeles last year was a big risk! I actually attended a small liberal arts college in the midwest called Millikin University where I graduated in 2022 with my BFA in musical theatre. I knew I wanted to act, the question was more ‘in what capacity’ and where. I’m from San Diego originally and love California, so when I was deciding where I wanted to go after I finally finished my degree, I took a little time back home to work and think about where would be the best fit. It was during that time that I started booking some work up here and I absolutely loved the atmosphere and opportunities that were starting to open up for me. Read more>>
Branecia Edgerton
Honestly, the biggest risk I’ve ever taken is me taking the simple candle making hobby that I picked up during the pandemic, turning it into a business and while also jumping into the world of entrepreneurship all in one go. I would never have imagined starting up a candle business a day in my life! My creative background mostly consists of designing logos, t-shirts, editing photos, etc. I’m a freelance graphic designer so doing most hands-on projects come to me easy 8 times out of 10. Read more>>
Doe Zantamata
I had the idea, well, clear direction to write my books back in 1998. I didn’t know when or how, just that this would be my lifetime goal. This was before the Internet is anywhere what it is today, and long before social media even existed. I began to journal, and lived life outside of that working regular jobs and pursuing other creative projects that had nothing to do with what would be my life’s work…or so I thought. I thought I should have money saved up before I began, but it seemed that the more I tried to save up, the more the money either disappeared as soon as it arrived, or I wasn’t paid for my work. So, I decided to start my social media page (Facebook) with nothing saved up and no knowledge of how Facebook pages worked. Read more>>
Jenn Rodriguez
The risk I continue taking is; betting on myself. I’ve had two careers within 20 years. I successfully moved up the ladder with Chase Bank ending my career as Branch Manager. After leaving Chase Bank, I spent the following 10 years as a clinical trauma therapist grinding through community mental health and ending my career as a successful private practice owner. Now, I’m embarking on this new journey as a mentor and advocate for inner healing. I find deep value in my ability to take risks and do the things that make sense to nobody else. I lean into letting go of what’s in front of me with no real certainty of what’s next. This is one of my superpowers. Read more>>
Breno Burnett
I feel that anyone who decides to live creatively is always taking a risk. To bet your income and career so you can live of doing what you love is a big risk! A risk I took a couple of years ago and still taking to this day. A risk which in my opinion is worth having because the reward is always fulfilling. SinceI was a kid I had a passion for cameras and what you could create with it. It was a method of communication, to express and show others how you see the world. But I thought that to have a life, making money, doing that was not possible. So I decided to take another path and pursue the career of being a doctor, because that’s what “successful people” do. It’s what I thought… and it didn’t last long! Read more>>
Kika Vila Nova
I am not sure if many would consider this a risk, but staying in the USA after my divorce was a big risk that I took. I’ll explain… My daughter’s dad and I got divorced when she was 2 years old. It was a very amicable divorce and we have remained friends to this day, however I can’t deny it was a very difficult time for me. The comfortable thing to do would be to pack my things and move back to Brazil, where I am from. I had no family here besides my daughter and all I wanted then was to be closer to my family, especially my mother. My daughter’s dad remained so present in her life that I just couldn’t bring myself to take her away from him… so I stayed. Read more>>
Kristina Jobe
When I graduated cosmetology school in 2013, I had been doing hair out of my kitchen for years prior. I was comfortable behind the chair, but I wasn’t comfortable with the business aspect of how a salon ran. My cosmetology instructors tried to encourage me to go out and get my own salon studio right after graduation, but I was far too afraid if that much responsibility. I got hired on at a commission salon in May of 2013. I got a lot of experience working with actual paying clients for the first time. I experienced how to price my services and the timing of those services. Read more>>
Nautika Brown
Taking risk one of the most powerful thing you can do but also the most difficult thing you can do, rather you a beginner or established. One of my biggest risk I took was stepping into the model and content creator scene against all the odds stacked against me I knew there was something bigger an better waiting for me being a single mom I knew I had to follow my dreams not only make a better life for me and my son but also to show my son to never be scared to chase his dreams. Life has just been blooming from movie rolls to viral videos to myself being recognized on the street for my model work. Read more>>
Yahhila Yisrael
Deciding to move with faith and take the steps of entrepreneurship was a big step for me. When starting a new business, you never know what the outcome will be. I knew that I wanted to work for myself and make my own schedule. My first taste of entrepreneurship, was when my children were younger, I started a daycare business working from home. Working a regular job or 9-5, was not suitable for me and for the needs of my children. Quitting my job to start a home business was taking a risk because, with any new business it takes time to develop and see income. I was determined to make it. For me, working from home made sense. Read more>>
Brian Kindall
I write novels about what it means to be human in the world. For all of my other aims with writing – entertainment, making a living, etc. – this is essentially what I’m all about. Sometimes this rubs readers the wrong way. After all, being human can be a messy business. When I take a character down a morally ambiguous path, the results can be unsettling. But as an artist, it’s important to take that risk. If art has a noble purpose, it’s to help people understand their existence. It’s my job to venture – via my characters – into all corners of that existence, even the dark ones. I try to do so with empathy and humor. The challenge in making a living this way is that you can alienate a large portion of your readership. Read more>>
Syann Williams
The biggest risk I’ve took. Was moving from Atlanta, Georgia to Las Vegas, Nevada with no family, no friends and starting over from scratch with two businesses. I wanted to expand my net work to the West Coast, the Journey is still on going. it’s like a roller coaster. I have good days and bad days in between days. Read more>>
Dominik Espey
Life is about taking risks. I know, you’ve probably heard that from your best friend at a party trying to get you to do something dumb. As much as it makes for a great story, there’s most likely better risks you can take. People need to take more risks. Risks that will better your life, teach you something. allow you to experience the world from a different view. A lot of what drives society today is comfort, a type of convince. Unfortunately, that’s also destroying us and ruining our chances of taking these risks that ultimately project us into a better quality of life. Read more>>
Canetha Amour-Porter
When I embarked on my journey to establish a skincare business, I bravely left a high-paying job to start from the ground up. I also took another risk in 2020 amidst the uncertainty caused by Covid. During this time, I expanded my business with a focus on empowering women, aiming to provide them with a supportive community and the necessary tools to not only survive but truly flourish. Read more>>
Casey & Eli Linthicum
Well… our biggest risk yet is currently underway! We are opening our 3rd location later this year (pushing for November!) in the Merriweather District in Columbia. This will be our biggest location yet at just under 4,000 square feet and our first full buyout. We are SUPER excited to bring such a fun and unique nightlife experience to our hometown of Columbia, and we are especially excited to be opening in the up-and-coming area of the Merriweather District. Stay tuned! Read more>>
Sharie Dodge & Logan Meyer
Context is everything, and a risk I take daily could be considered life changing to others. Of course, the inverse is true, too. One of the most risky choices I had to make in my life was while backpacking in Peru. Breaking with tradition, instead of a big fancy wedding, we opted to celebrate by going to the Andes Mountains to climb higher than we ever had before. This would mean our marriage would always be a high point in life, literally. We camped at the Refugio (a rustic shelter at 14,000 ft elevation), while many experienced mountaineers were acclimating for a few days before attempting any summits, we are fortunate to live in Colorado and are well adjusted to high altitude. Early in the morning we ate breakfast, packed our things and headed up the trail. Read more>>
Nox Nohi
I have built my entire career on taking risk. When I knew that this life as a creative was possible. I sold all of my belongings, I sold my car, and then Reduced my life to a camera bag and duffel bag full of clothes. I sleep on my friends couches between tours. I reinvested the majority of my money into assets and gear that would help me evolve as a creative as well as investing in the people who allow me to do this. Where I am today feel like every risk was worth it and I’m finally coming to place in life where I don’t have to take as many risks because betting on myself has started to pay off. Read more>>
Camryn Bailey
As a business owner, embracing risk is an inherent part of the entrepreneurial journey. Taking risks is a pivotal aspect that can define the success of a venture. Whether it’s launching a new product, expanding into unfamiliar markets, or making significant investments, calculated risks often lead to substantial rewards. Risk-taking demonstrates the courage and conviction to pursue innovative ideas and stay ahead in a dynamic business landscape. While not all risks may yield immediate positive results, learning from failures and adapting strategies foster growth and resilience. The ability to assess and manage risks prudently can open doors to uncharted opportunities, propelling the business towards new heights of achievement and distinction. Ultimately, it is the judicious balance of boldness and strategic planning that empowers business owners to navigate uncertainty and achieve long-term prosperity. Read more>>
James Hardy
I had been working as a waiter and barista, finishing my undergraduate B.A. degree in History at the University of Utah when a Summer yoga teacher training popped up at the local yoga studio I attended. I went into debt to finance the yoga teacher training, not knowing exactly how it was going to go or if there would even be work on the other side of it. A month after completing the training, a teaching vacancy opened up at my studio and I was offered two classes a week at $45 per class. I was definitely over waiting tables at that point and once I accepted the teacher position, I quit my serving job – even though it was my main source of income! Read more>>
Limaris Burgos- Moye
I never imagined my life would lead me here. I have always loved Art, but choosing it as a career wasn’t necessarily encouraged. I decided to pursue marketing and graduated with a bachelors in 2012. I went ahead and earned an MBA-Marketing degree right after. Once I graduated, I realized that I didn’t want to commute far, so I applied for a job as an advisor at the same university. In 2016, I was hired and began working with military students. I felt like I was giving back, and it felt good until I started feeling like I plateaued. I became the best in that position and felt like I reached my ceiling. Since it was a small department, the opportunity for growth wasn’t realistic. Read more>>
Chief LoLo SunSe-A
I wouldn’t really say it was a risk. It was actually an Awakening. I was said an Epiphany from the Most High God! I’ve always been a very different being since birth. I am the oldest maternal grandchild and was the shield for all of my younger cousins. As I evolved I had some health/life scares that actually cultivated the strength and power to overcome things that had me in a state of stagnancy. But in the end has elevated into a realm to procreate and I am able to put the talents and God given Anointing to help others find their way through any maze given to them in this plethora called Life! Read more>>
Delanie Holton-Fessler
Opening Craftsman & Apprentice was a significant risk for me. I had been a unionized teacher for ten years. When I chose to be an art teacher, it was because it was one of the most reliable jobs in the arts that I could think of; consistency, job security, and benefits. Teaching jobs, even union ones, are not as secure as they once were, and I was beginning to see that. When we opened the shop, we sold our car and did everything we could to get our bills to a bare minimum (not that my teaching salary was big, to begin with). We had two small kids to take care of. I knew that I had to start turning a profit quickly. Cheap rent, DIY everything, and loads of support from friends, family, and community made it possible. Nearly ten years later, I can’t imagine my life without the shop. Read more>>
Dianni Hall
Every personal and entrepreneurial decision I’ve made over the past four years has been a risk. It began with the risky decision to drop out of my master’s program, end my relationship, and end my lease just to pack my life into a few boxes and fly to India. I’ve told that story so many times at this point that it has lost its shock factor for me, but when I take the time to actually look back at the choice I made, I can confidently say it was the biggest risk I’d ever taken, but also the most rewarding. I basically had burned my life to the ground because I had craved travel for years and years, but it never seemed to fit into my life. I couldn’t study abroad in college because it was too expensive. I didn’t have the time to travel because I was always either studying or working. Read more>>
Wes Anderson
In 2009, I graduated college with a Finance degree, and shortly after moved to Chicago and started my journey into corporate life. Soon after, I also joined a local band and we started really sinking our teeth into building the band, playing out, and recording music. That experience re-ignited my flame for music, and coincided with me quickly realizing that corporate lifestyle wasn’t for me. After a few years of doing that, the band experienced some personnel issues which slowed us down. And around that time, an east coast band I knew of posted about looking for a lead guitarist. Read more>>
Amber Barnes
Building a self made business from my work checks was definitely risk taking. I had to take money from my bills and believe in myself that this was the best move for me. Bills and car notes was due. I put it all on hold to find everything I needed for my business.. once I got it I doubled it more then 3 times so my bills was good and my business was up in running. I had to take this risk because this was what I wanted and I’ve been putting it off for years, I told myself the time is now or never and I’m so happy and satisfied that I took that risk , definitely worth it. I will do it again. Read more>>
Christine Shaffer
I have always been someone who believes in taking risks and never lived my life in a “comfort zone”. I spent close to 40 years working within a corporate system and my experiences and interactions with others are what led me to create Journey To Real Vision. I’ve slowly built this business over several years and am extremely grateful that I am now devoting all of my time and energy full-time to serving others. It’s my life purpose to guide and encourage others to become better versions of themselves. I realized early on that everything begins with your mindset, thoughts, and emotions. They are the key to everything! During my years in the corporate world, I lost my identity and degraded my own value. I see this every day with so many individuals. Read more>>
Rachyl LaGrone
When I decided to start painting murals full time I was in my first year of law school. I had just become a single mom and Covid was raging. One day I was driving to class when I saw a man painting a huge mural on the side of a comedy club right down the street from my house. I pulled over to quickly tell him the wall looked great and that I was an artist as well. We had a conversation and he told me how much he was getting paid for that wall. The amount would cover my bills and my son’s bills for a year. Over the next month or so I could not stop thinking about art and the potential for me to become a muralist. To be able to spend more time with my son. Read more>>